Body Image Poll Reveals Sad Truth About Self-Esteem

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In a recent body image experiment, Glamour challenged 300 women of all shapes and sizes "to note every negative or anxious thought they had about their bodies over the course of one full day." The result? Ninety seven percent of women said they had at least one self-berating moment.

Some thoughts sent in: "You look like an Oompa-Loompa." "Don't eat that. You could probably use an eating disorder." Click here for a list of more. Sure, some are kind of funny, but most are sad—especially when we consider that we'd never let anyone else speak to us that way.

Ann Kearney-Cook, a psychologist who helps Glamour design the survey, said she wasn't surprised. "It's actually more acceptable to insult your body than to praise it." She adds that negative talk is one way women bond. Plus, the mentality starts early, most girls already wishing they could change at least one thing about their bodies by the time they're six, according to a university study.

And unsurprisingly, our "I hate my body" moments have little to do with our bodies, but more to do with not feeling valued enough in specific areas of our lives or in general. So, if that's the case, then how do we silence our "inner mean girl?" Well, reaching our goal weight probably won't work; even the prettiest girls can find imperfections to glorify. Instead, we teach ourselves how to combat those thoughts rather than allow them to take over, says Nichole Wood-Barcalow, Ph.D., a psychologist at the Laureate Eating Disorders Program in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Read more about the experiment and get their doctor-recommended suggestions for how to take control of all that loathing here.